Design panel criticizes scaled-back school plan

Tanya Mannes

CHULA VISTA – Calvary Chapel San Diego has dramatically scaled down its plan to build a high school in Chula Vista's Otay Ranch neighborhood, but the church still has work to do after a city panel this week gave the new design a thumbs-down.

The church operates a 450-student Christian academy for grades kindergarten through 12 above Cottonwood Park. For the past two years, the church has been working on a plan to build a separate high school on a vacant lot it acquired just below the park.

Neighbors objected to the church's original plan for the site at East Palomar Street and Santa Rosa Drive: a 500-student complex with a gymnasium that would double as a worship hall. Residents said that the school would increase noise and traffic and that the plan lacked adequate parking.

On Monday, Calvary Chapel unveiled a new plan to the city's Design Review Commission. In the revised design, the school would be rotated away from the private streets maintained by a homeowners association, the buildings would be smaller and much of the site would be a parking lot. The number of students would be reduced from 500 to 352. The number of parking spaces would be increased from 50 to 88.

To the church's surprise, the city panel gave the plan low marks, saying it would be a waste of a “prominent corner.”

Commissioner Yolanda Calvo said she understands the residents' concerns but thinks the new design would be “a disservice” to the community.

“It's an important corner and to have a parking lot instead of a nice building would not be complementary to the village,” Calvo said.

Other commissioners urged Calvary Chapel to make more of an architectural statement, possibly by incorporating the Spanish style of nearby homes.

After the meeting, church officials expressed frustration that the plan didn't please the city panel, which generally must approve a project before the Planning Commission considers granting a permit.

Calvary Chapel's pastor, the Rev. Bill South, said the design changes “were attempts to meet the community's concerns and the city's concerns.” South said the church will continue talking with city staff members and the homeowners association to find common ground.

Joseph Boehm, a resident who has been vocal in his opposition to a school on that site, was sympathetic to the church after the meeting.

“I feel they've responded to many of our concerns, but in their effort to make the design work, they haven't met the city's design standards,” Boehm said. “They're kind of stuck in the middle now.”

Boehm said he still is worried about adding traffic in an already congested area.

Scott Donaghe, a senior planner for the city, was optimistic the church will be able to reach a compromise. Donaghe said the city is working on reducing traffic congestion in the neighborhood.

“I think we can come up with a great project for the site that will be a benefit to the whole village,” Donaghe said.